The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and good Samaritans aboard a fishing boat recently helped rescue a sailing vessel that was taking on water, approximately 300 miles north of the island of Maui.

At about 11:45 a.m. Sept. 9, the 36-foot Honey Cutter en-route from Hawaii to San Diego sent a SOS message that stated the vessel had suffered a keel fracture and was taking on water.

The Coast Guard requested help from Patrol Squadron Four based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay and good Samaritans on the Captain Kenneth, located approximately 40 miles from the Honey Cutter.

The Navy’s P-3C Orion arrived on scene and quickly established communications with the distressed vessel. The crew remained overhead for several hours and coordinated the arrival of the Captain Kenneth to the scene. The efforts of the air-crew helped ensure a successful meetup and tow with the two boats. If it hadn’t been for the capabilities and training of the aircraft and crew, the distressed boat could have cap-sized into the ocean, stranding the crew.

The Honey Cutter crew said they were prepared to abandon ship and were manually dewatering the vessel. The Captain Kenneth arrived on scene and was able to start towing the Honey Cutter at about 11 p.m. No injuries were reported.